ウッズ「フルタイムではもう無理」　競技復帰には自信

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】男子ゴルフ、元世界ランキング１位のタイガー・ウッズ（米国）が、キャリアを脅かす脚の大けがのリハビリを続けている中で、フルタイムでのプロ生活復帰の可能性を除外した。２９日に掲載された米誌ゴルフ・ダイジェストのインタビューで明らかにした。（写真は男子ゴルフのタイガー・ウッズ）
　メジャー通算１５勝を誇るウッズは、最終的に競技復帰することには自信を示しながらも、今後は大会数を絞って出場すると語った。同選手は２月、ロサンゼルス郊外で運転中に道路から飛び出し、複数回横転して右脚を複雑骨折した。
　現在４５歳のウッズはここ数年、腰や膝の手術を繰り返しており、すでに事故前から出場する大会数が減っていた。今後は出る大会を「選択」していくことになるとし、フルタイムでのＰＧＡツアーメンバーとしての日々は事実上終了しているとの認識を示した。
　ウッズはインタビューの中で、「今後のツアーに関しては、フルタイムではもう無理だろうが、選択してプレーしていくのが現実的なところだと思う」と明かし、「年間いくつか大会を選んで、その範囲でプレーする」と語った。
　「これからは、そうやってプレーしていくしかないと考えている。残念な現実だが、それが自分の現実だ。そのことを理解しているし、受け入れている」
　ウッズは今週、バハマで開催されるヒーロー・ワールドチャレンジで、事故後初めて公の場に姿を見せることになっている。ウッズの財団が主催する同大会には、選手２０人が出場する。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/11/30-12:12）

Tiger Woods has ruled out making a full-time return to professional golf as he works his way back from career-threatening leg injuries.
The 15-time major winner told Golf Digest in an interview published on Monday that although he is confident of eventually making a return to the sport, he expected he would only play select tournaments from now on.
The 45-year-old former world number one suffered compound fractures in his right leg after a car he was driving in a Los Angeles suburb in February veered off the road and flipped several times.
Before the accident, Woods was already playing a reduced schedule following multiple surgeries on his back and knee over the years.
He told Golf Digest on Monday that his days as a full-time member of the PGA Tour were now effectively over, saying he now expected to pick and choose events in future.
I think something that is realistic is playing the Tour one day ? never full time, ever again ? but pick and choose, Woods said.
Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that.
I think that's how I'm going to have to play it from now on. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.
Woods generated buzz earlier this month after posting video on Twitter of himself hitting balls, with the caption Making progress.
Woods, who completed a fairytale return from back fusion surgery to capture his 15th major title at the 2019 Masters, questioned whether he had the same drive to return to the pinnacle of his sport.
I don't have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life, Woods said.
After my back fusion, I had to climb Mount Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don't think I'll have the body to climb Mount Everest and that's OK.
I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there.
But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don't think that's a realistic expectation of me.
Woods meanwhile revealed he had feared that he may have to have his leg amputated in the immediate aftermath of February's accident.
There was a point in time when, I wouldn't say it was 50/50, but it was damn near there if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg, said Woods, who believes he is less than halfway towards a return to fitness.
I have so far to go... I'm not even at the halfway point, he said. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I've had five back operations. So I'm having to deal with that. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up. It's a tough road.
Woods added he had been forced to pace his recovery.
Being patient and progressing at a pace that is aggressive but not over the top, he said. Obviously when I get in the gym and I get flowing and the endorphins get going I want to go, go, go.
Woods' interview with Golf Digest comes ahead of his first public appearance since his accident at this week's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the 20-man tournament that raises funds for his foundation.